Gas lighter

ABSTRACT

A gas lighter for passing a flame from a first fire source to a second fire source including a gas fuel supply system to create a flame, a timer to regulate a time duration of the flame, and an actuation lever to activate the gas fuel supply system and the timer mechanism.

FIELD

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to a lighterand, more particularly, but not exclusively, to a gas-filled lighter.

BACKGROUND

A lighter is a portable device which may be used to create a flame, andto ignite a variety of combustible materials, such as cigars,cigarettes, gas stoves, fireworks, candles, campfires, among others. Itgenerally includes a metal or plastic housing filled with a flammablefluid or pressurized liquid gas, a means of ignition to produce theflame, and some provision for extinguishing the flame. Alternatively, alighter may be powered by electricity and may use an electric arc orheating element to ignite the combustible material.

Gas-filled lighters are well known in the art and exist in many shapesand forms. Many include a fuel container filled with a gas and anelectric arc generating mechanism which lights up the gas as it flowsout of the lighter.

An example of such a gas-filled lighter is described in U.S. Pat. No.6,059,563 to Huang-his Hsu which discloses; “A gas lighter with dualsafety mechanism comprises an actuator mechanism provided between anignition button and a gas fuel reservoir having a push means protrudedfrom a surface of gas lighter, a first elastic member urged againstactuator mechanism, a slidably mounted connecting rod on actuatormechanism, and a second elastic member put on a side of connecting rod.In operation, continuously press push means until connecting rod isaligned with ignition button and gas fuel reservoir. Then press ignitionbutton to urge against connecting rod for pivotably rotating a pivotalmember to activate a piston of gas fuel reservoir to open an outlet todischarge gas fuel which in turn flows to a tube member for igniting thegas lighter. An ignition is only made possible through activation ofactuator mechanism and ignition button and thus, a mechanism forpreventing inadvertent ignition of the gas lighter is obtained”.

Another example of such a lighter is described in U.S. Pat. No.6,447,287 also to Huang-his Hsu which discloses; “A gas lighter includesa handgrip holding a fuel tank and an electric arc generator, anactuating device pivoted to the inside of the handgrip, an ignitionbutton mounted in an opening on the handgrip and adapted to trigger theelectric arc generator in producing an electric arc for burning fuel gasdischarged out of a gas nozzle in a cylindrical metal casing at one endof the handgrip and simultaneously to drive the actuating device inopening the fuel tank for enabling fuel gas to flow out of the fuel tankto the gas nozzle for burning, and a spring-supported locking leverassembly mounted in a sector slot on the handgrip and adapted to movethe actuating device between the operative position and thenon-operative position”.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention, a gas lighter for passing a flame from a first fire source toa second fire source, the gas lighter including a gas fuel supply systemto create a flame, a timer to regulate a time duration of the flame; andan actuation lever to activate the gas fuel supply system and the timermechanism. Additionally, the gas lighter includes a housing with anoptional extender tube to hold the flame.

In some embodiments, the gas fuel supply system includes a gas fuelcontainer including an outlet port. The gas fuel container may berefillable or alternatively, disposable.

In some embodiments, the gas fuel supply system includes a mechanicalplunger to control gas flow from the gas fuel container. The plunger mayinclude a seal to close gas flow from the gas fuel container.

In some embodiments, the gas fuel supply system includes a gas fuelconduit to direct gas flow from the gas fuel container.

In some embodiments, the timer includes a piston which may be attachedto the actuation lever.

In some embodiments, the timer includes a cylinder to accommodate thepiston and may include a spring in the cylinder. The cylinder mayadditionally include a time regulating mechanism. The time regulatingmechanism may include an intake valve which may be adjustable. The timeregulating mechanism may additionally or alternatively include an outletvalve.

In some embodiments, the cylinder includes air. Alternatively, thecylinder includes water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the invention are herein described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. Details shownare for exemplary purposes and serve to provide a discussion ofembodiments of the invention. The description and the drawings may beapparent to those skilled in the art how embodiments of the inventionmay be practiced.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an exemplary gas lighter, according toan embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the exemplary gas lighter, according toan embodiment of the present invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, itis to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and the arrangement of thecomponents and/or methods set forth in the following description and/orillustrated in the drawings and/or the Examples. The invention iscapable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out invarious ways.

According to Jewish law, it is forbidden to light a fire during a Jewishreligious holiday, but it is possible to light a fire from another firesource that was lit prior to the start of the holiday. For example, itis possible to light a candle before the start of the holiday and duringthe holiday it is possible to pass the flame, for example, to a gasstove. Furthermore, also according to Jewish law, it is forbidden toextinguish a fire during the holiday.

An aspect of the present invention relates to a gas lighter which may beused to pass a flame from a first fire source to a second fire sourceand does not include an ignition mechanism to start the flame. Thelighter includes a gas fuel supply system which is used to create theflame, and a timer mechanism to regulate the duration of the flame. Thelighter additionally includes an actuation lever which, when pressed bya user, activates the gas fuel supply system to allow gas flow from thelighter which may be ignited to create the flame. Pressing of theactuation lever additionally activates the timer mechanism. The timermechanism may include any suitable mechanism which may regulate theamount of time that gas flows out of the gas fuel supply system, and mayinclude a mechanical timer, a pneumatic piston and cylinder mechanism, ahydraulic mechanism, among others.

In some embodiments, the gas fuel supply system may include a gas fuelcontainer from which gas may flow through a nozzle in the lighter forigniting the flame. The gas fuel container may be refillable, oralternatively, single use and disposable. The gas lighter mayadditionally include a gas flow control mechanism which opens and closesa valve in the gas fuel container for lighting and extinguishing theflame, respectively. The gas flow control mechanism may be mechanicallyconnected to the actuating lever and may open the gas fuel containervalve when then actuating lever is pressed, and may close the valve whenthe actuating lever is returned to, or is proximal to, its initialposition.

In some embodiments, the timer mechanism may include a piston andcylinder arrangement, the piston connected to the actuator lever whichwhen pressed, drives the piston into the cylinder. The cylinder mayinclude a one-way valve through which air may flow out of the cylinderas the piston is driven further into the cylinder. The cylinder mayadditionally include a spring which may push the piston out of thecylinder in order to return the piston and the actuator lever to theiroriginal position prior to pressing of the lever. As a vacuum issubstantially formed inside the cylinder when the air flows out of thecylinder through the one-way valve, in order for the piston to be pushedback to its original position, the cylinder may include an intake valvethrough which air may flow back into the cylinder. Alternatively, thecylinder may be a hydraulic cylinder filled with a fluid, for example,water, instead of air, and may include a fluid tank into which the waterflows through the one-way valve when the piston is pushed into thecylinder and from the which the water flows back into the cylinderthrough the intake valve.

In some embodiments, the intake valve may be adjustable to allow a userto adjust the amount of time the piston and the actuation lever arereturned to, or proximal to, their initial position, at which time theflame may be automatically extinguished. For example, the adjustableintake valve may be set for a time duration of 3 seconds of pressingafter pressing of the actuator, 5 seconds after pressing, 10 secondsafter pressing, 20 seconds after pressing, 30 seconds after pressing, ormore or less. Optionally, the user may preset the time duration toreturn the actuation lever back to its original position prior topressing the lever. Additionally, the user may adjust the time durationfollowing pressing of the actuation lever and while the flame is lit.Alternatively, the intake valve may not be adjustable, and the timeduration is preset by the manufacturer of the gas lighter.

In some embodiments, the lighter may be manufactured in different shapesand sizes, and preferably from a relatively lightweight material such asa plastic or a lightweight metal, or any combination thereof, to allowit to be held in a single hand. Optionally, the lighter may be sized tofit in a shirt pocket or a pants pocket or to be carried inside ahandbag. The lighter components may be manufactured from any suitablematerial, and may include plastic, metal, rubber, among others.

In an exemplary mode of operation, when the user wants to light a secondfire source, for example, a cigarette or a gas stove, from a first firesource, for example a candle, the following steps may be carried out:

a. The user presses on the actuator lever.b. The user places the end of the nozzle of the lighter against theflame of the first fire source.c. The gas from the lighter ignites and a flame is light at the nozzle'send.d. The user uses the lighter to light the second fire source.e. After the predetermined time, the timer system shuts of the gas flowin the lighter and the flame is extinguished.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1 which schematically illustrates anexemplary gas lighter 10, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. The lighter 10 may include a housing 11 with an extender tube12 through which gas fuel may exit from the lighter to light a flame 34,a gas fuel container 30 to store gas fuel, a gas fuel conduit 32extending from the gas fuel container through the housing towards adistal portion of the extender tube and through which gas fuel may flowto light the flame, an actuator lever 14 to activate gas flow throughthe gas fuel conduit, and a timer mechanism 15 to control an amount oftime gas fuel flows through the gas fuel conduit responsive to a userpressing on the actuator lever.

The lighter 10 may additionally include a plunger 26 which is connectedto the actuator lever 14 at a proximal end and extends into the gas fuelcontainer 30. A distal end of the plunger 26 includes a seal 28 whichmay seal an outlet port 29 in the gas fuel container 30 to which the gasfuel conduit 32 is connected. Responsive to pressing of the actuatorlever 14, the plunger 26 is displaced inwardly into the gas fuelcontainer 30 removing the seal 28 from the outlet port 29 to allow gasfuel flow into the gas fuel conduit 32. The plunger 26 may also,responsive to operation of the timer mechanism 15 as described furtheron below, be displaced outwardly from the gas fuel container 30 so thatthe seal 28 covers the outlet port 29 and prevents gas fuel from flowinginto the gas fuel conduit 32.

The timer mechanism 15 may include a piston 36 which is attached to theactuator lever 14 and a cylinder 18 into which the piston may bedisplaced inwardly responsive to pressing of the actuator lever. Thecylinder 18 may include a spring mechanism 16 which may push the piston36, once inside the cylinder, outwardly to return the actuator lever 14to its initial (pre-pressed) position. Pushing the piston 36, andconsequently the actuation level 14, results in the plunger 26 beingretrieved outwardly from the gas fuel container 30 and the seal 28covering the outlet port 29 (sealing gas flow to gas fuel conduit 32 andextinguishing flame 34) when the actuation lever is returned to itsinitial position or proximal to the initial position.

The timer mechanism 15 may additionally include a regulating mechanism21 which may allow a user to adjust the rate at which the springmechanism 16 pushes the actuator lever 14 back to its initial position,for example, corresponding with a period of time of 3 seconds, 5seconds, 7 seconds, 10 seconds, 15 seconds, or more, or less.Consequently, the amount of time gas fuel flows through the gas fuelconduit 32 (and the flame 34 is lit) is determined by the regulatingmechanism 21.

The regulating mechanism 21 may include a one-way valve 20 on thecylinder 16 which may allow air to flow out of the gas fuel cylinder 30as the piston 36 is displaced inwardly into the cylinder. The regulatingmechanism 21 may additionally include an adjustable intake valve 22through which air may flow into the cylinder 30 and which may include acalibration screw 24 which may be used to adjust the quantity of airwhich may flow through the intake valve and thereby adjust the airpressure inside the cylinder. By adjusting the air pressure inside thegas fuel cylinder 30, the rate at which the spring mechanism 16 pushesthe piston 36 outwards from the cylinder may be adjusted, and therebythe amount of time the actuation lever 14 is returned to its initialposition.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2 which schematically illustrates theexemplary gas lighter 10, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. The lighter 10 is shown lighting a candle 36 using a flamefrom a previous fire source.

The foregoing description and illustrations of the embodiments of theinvention has been presented for the purposes of illustration. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the abovedescription in any form.

Any term that has been defined above and used in the claims, should beinterpreted according to this definition.

What is claimed is:
 1. A gas lighter for passing a flame from a firstfire source to a second fire source comprising: a gas fuel supply systemto create a flame; a timer to regulate a time duration of said flame;and an actuation lever to activate said gas fuel supply system and saidtimer mechanism.
 2. A lighter according to claim 1 wherein said gas fuelsupply system comprises a gas fuel container.
 3. A lighter according toclaim 2 wherein said gas fuel container is refillable.
 4. A lighteraccording to claim 2 wherein said gas fuel container is disposable.
 5. Alighter according to claim 2 wherein said gas fuel supply systemcomprises a mechanical plunger to control gas flow from said gas fuelcontainer.
 6. A lighter according to claim 5 wherein said plungercomprises a seal to close gas flow from said gas fuel container.
 7. Alighter according to claim 2 wherein said gas fuel container comprisesan outlet port.
 8. A lighter according to claim 2 wherein said gas fuelsupply system comprises a gas fuel conduit to direct gas flow from saidgas fuel container.
 9. A lighter according to claim 1 further comprisinga housing.
 10. A lighter according to claim 9 wherein said housingcomprises an extender tube to hold said flame.
 11. A lighter accordingto claim 1 wherein said timer comprises a piston.
 12. A lighteraccording to claim 11 wherein said piston is attached to said actuationlever.
 13. A lighter according to claim 11 comprising a cylinder toaccommodate said piston.
 14. A lighter according to claim 13 whereinsaid cylinder comprises a spring.
 15. A lighter according to claim 13wherein said cylinder comprises a time regulating mechanism.
 16. Alighter according to claim 13 wherein said time regulating mechanismcomprises an intake valve.
 17. A lighter according to claim 16 whereinsaid intake valve is adjustable.
 18. A lighter according to claim 13wherein said time regulating mechanism comprises an outlet valve.
 19. Alighter according to claim 13 wherein said cylinder comprises air.
 20. Alighter according to claim 13 wherein said cylinder comprises water.